i am the dancing queen!

[ontology]

Despite being barraged by sun and humidity, aching all over, somehow managing to catch a cold in eighty-degree weather, having to choose between four different bands in one time-slot, and finding my face has been sunburned dreadfully, I have had a marvellous weekend. Marvellous. To begin with, at least one festival a year tends to be my father's and my special togetherness, that thing that just we share, and as people in general go, I can be alone with him better than I can be with most people. (It helps that we kind of know each other really well, but also we're similar kinds of introverts and know when to let each other be, generally speaking. And he's one of the few people I know -- especially offline -- who listens to music in the same way I do; drinking it in, living inside of it.) And, as seems to be tradition these days, I discovered some really fantastic bands -- Scythian, who I mentioned before I left, are brilliant, especially late at night on a dance floor. Especially as the band is made up of four extremely, um, attractive young men who were wearing waistcoats the first night. And they're amazing instrumentalists. That violin almost broke my heart... except when it was going too fast to think, and I was dancing so hard I was losing my kerchief. At one point near the end of the set, all of the boys except the drummer leapt off the stage and played while dancing with us, and the main fiddler and I were dancing -- more at than with each other, but either way it was magnificent. Definitely a memory to fold up and keep, like Kristen Andreassen telling me that my then-pink hair was awesome, or Abigail Washburn turning to Bela Fleck and saying, "Don't you remember her? She was dancing to us at Merlefest...", or star-watching after Nickel Creek's two-and-a-half-hour set two years ago.

My other new favourite band is the Belleville Outfit, who play old-timey string-band swing music. SO GOOD. Their violinist and female lead vocalist has an extraordinary voice -- very 1920s, and unique. They also played the dance tent. The best things seem to happen there! (I also went to see the Duhks at their dance stage session, which was just as amazing as the other two I mentioned. Also the "new" -- as of two years ago -- lead vocalist can sing, my oh my. I've known this, but it kind of comes home to you when you're two feet away. Also it's very fascinating to me how different Cajun French sounds from European French -- Cajun French has swagger. Somehow it manages to sound like a completely different language.) -- Oh, and there were the Farewell Drifters, who sounded a little like an American Mumford & Sons -- they had the roots influences and the string-band thing going on, but with indie singer-songwriter sorts of melodies and lyrics and arrangements. And then there's the legendary Doc Watson himself, who may be eighty-six, but he's still a very compelling musician and showman.

So much to discuss! So little energy! We got in late last night (and then poor Dad only had time to snatch a few hours of sleep before driving to Ohio for a confernence with our church's denomination), and all day today it has taken much, much willpower to do much besides lie on the bed. Or sometimes on the couch. My legs ache -- in a good way, but still in a don't-want-to-move way; and the cold has drained any remaining energy out of me, except for the tiny reserve I dug up in order to run errands by bicycle this afternoon. (AUUUGH. But I had to fetch my new glasses, and my Ritalin except it still isn't here.) Even turned down an offer of ice cream from Jonathan, because... food. Ack. And bicycling again. I might fall off on the way. plkhsglkhsdf.

In other news, four days from now I will be flying to stay with lady_moriel. (She somehow manages to say calmly and off-handedly. AKJSGHG.) 

Comments

[burningstarsxe.livejournal.com]

Oh that sounds so beautifully marvelous! Experiences like that are bits of heaven, I think.

[everydayjoy.livejournal.com]

Your lush descriptions put me *right there*, even though I am miffed at you for not saving me any cookies.

PS. Thanks to you, I am now listening to Marth Tilston. Free albums ftw!

[spockodile.livejournal.com]

Regarding the Festival followed by Kyra: I am reminded of the time when I spent a week with Rosemary, Noah, Alessandra, and the other Inkspillers and then spent the next week with Meholicks, Nielsons, etc. The first week was awesome, and the second week was awesome. It's like... AAAHHHH SO MUCH AWESOME ALL AT ONCE THIS IS FANTASTIC

Anyway. Glad you're having fun. :D Your descriptions, I think, make all your readers have just a bit of fun along with you.

[charismitaine.livejournal.com]

That sounds just magical. How wonderful!

[travellers-home.livejournal.com]

Wow, it sounds like you had such an amazing time there! I'm glad you had fun and discovered some new favourite artists. Now I need to check them out as well... I love new music. :)

[shadowempress.livejournal.com]

Which violinist? They technically have two. I hope you got to see Danny Boy, cause that is just so epic.

This all sounds so fun and kinda Through the Looking Glass.

[goddessreason.livejournal.com]

I forget, would the main fiddler be the dark haired fellow or the guitarist's brother? Whichever, I have turned several shades of green in the last second or two. I mean wow :)

how beautiful!!

[sunfiremarie.livejournal.com]

Dancing is such a sacred thing. Isn't it amazing how we all KNOW what music does but when the people making it are right in front of you and the vastness of the power in it is RIGHT there it just opens up in a completely new and unpredictable way every time?

Sounds like we're in fairly similar places, with so much to process that our bodies want to lay low so our minds/spirits can assimilate it all. Yesterday I woke up with more energy than I've had in days -- I think the thunderstorms are helping.

I'm thrilled for you and your adventures and the excitements on the horizon!